Sufuri da Hanya
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name common forms of local transport and route-related vocabulary in Boko.
- Ask for and give simple directions using relational nouns and prepositions of place.
- Continue using existence, possession, and quantity expressions (akwai, yana/tana da) in a transport context.
- Describe delays and sequence a short trip using recycled time expressions and connectors.
- Use object pronouns with transport-related verbs in present-based frames.
- Extend negation to location, direction, and delay statements.
- Politely ask a driver or fellow passenger for help, clarification, or repetition.
- Read a short transport schedule and a set of route directions.
- Write a short paragraph describing how to get from one place to another.
Communication Scenario
After finishing his shopping at Kasuwar Kurmi in Chapter 7, Bala needs to get himself and his purchases back home. He must find the right vehicle, ask the driver about the route and the fare, and manage a delay along the way. This chapter continues Unit II by extending the existence, possession, and quantity clauses developed so far into location and direction language, and by introducing prepositions and relational nouns for handling transport and travel sequencing.
- New vocabulary in this chapter centers on transport, routes, and directions.
- New grammar introduces relational nouns and prepositions of place, along with connectors for sequencing a trip.
- The akwai/yana-tana da system, object pronouns, and negation from Chapters 6–7 continue to develop and now cover location and travel verbs.
- All vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–7 remain available for recycling.
- Communication repair remains an active, expected part of every interaction.
Core Vocabulary
The vocabulary below is productive for this chapter. Gender and plural information is included where relevant so you can use these nouns correctly in the grammar patterns that follow. Market and price vocabulary from Chapter 7 remains active and recycled here.
Sufuri — Transport
| Boko | Meaning | Gender/Plural | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| mota | car, vehicle | f., pl. motoci | recycled from Volume I, expanded here |
| bas | bus | m., pl. bas-bas | |
| keke | bicycle, motorcycle | m., pl. kekuna | context distinguishes bicycle from motorcycle |
| direba | driver | m./f., pl. direbobi | |
| fasinja | passenger | m./f., pl. fasinjoji | |
| tasha | station, stop | f., pl. tashoshi | |
| hanya | road, way, route | f., pl. hanyoyi | |
| kuɗin sufuri | fare, transport money | m., mass noun | |
| jinkiri | delay | m. | |
| cuwa-cuwa | traffic, congestion | m. | |
| tafiya | trip, journey, walking | f. | |
| hau | to board, to get on | verb | |
| sauka | to get off, to alight | verb | |
| tuƙa | to drive | verb |
Alkiblu da Wuri — Direction and Place Words
| Boko | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gaba | ahead, in front | relational noun |
| baya | behind, back | relational noun |
| dama | right (side) | |
| hagu | left (side) | |
| kusa da | near | prepositional frame |
| nesa da | far from | prepositional frame |
| kai tsaye | directly, straight | |
| juya | to turn | verb |
All items above are productive for this chapter. Relational nouns such as gaba and baya combine with da in possessive-like relational frames introduced below.
Pronunciation and Boko Focus
8.1 Tone contrast: hanya versus haya
Practice the tone and vowel quality of hanya (road, way) carefully, and compare it with the similar-looking word haya (rent), reviewed from Chapter 3. These words are distinguished by tone and by the medial consonant cluster, not by stress placement as in English.
Continue practicing the digraph ts, reviewed from earlier chapters, in words like tasha (station). Also practice the ejective ƙ in tuƙa (to drive), which is produced with a sharper, more forceful release than an ordinary English "k." Say tuƙa slowly, then at a natural pace, and compare it to kuɗi (money) from Chapter 7, which uses an ordinary "k."
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter extends the existence, possession, object-pronoun, and negation patterns from Chapters 6–7 into location and direction language, and introduces prepositions and relational nouns for handling transport and travel sequencing. All forms below build directly on the subject-marker system introduced in Chapter 6.
8.2 Relational nouns of place: gaba, baya, dama, hagu
Hausa expresses many spatial relations using a relational noun followed by da and the reference point, rather than a single one-word preposition. This is the same relational pattern used for possession-like relations and now applies to direction.
- Tashar bas tana gaba da kanti.The bus station is ahead of the stall.
- Mota tana baya da makaranta.The car is behind the school.
- Ku juya hagu a tashar.Turn left at the station.
Gaba, baya, dama, and hagu function as relational nouns rather than fixed prepositions. They combine with da to introduce the reference point, following the same pattern reviewed with kusa da and nesa da. Do not translate these word-for-word as single English prepositions without the accompanying example.
8.3 Object pronouns with transport verbs
Object pronouns from Chapter 7 continue to be productive in present-based frames, now with verbs such as hau (board) and sauka daga (get off from).
| Independent Pronoun | Object Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ni (I) | ni | Ina son hawan ta. (I want to board it, f., referring to mota) |
| kai (you, m.) | ka | Za ka sauka daga gare shi. (recognition: future, glossed) |
| shi (he/it, m.) | shi | Ina son hawan sa. (I want to board it, m., referring to bas) |
| ita (she/it, f.) | ta | Na hau ta jiya. (recognition: past, glossed) |
| su (they) | su | Ina son ganin su a tasha. (I want to see them at the station) |
As in Chapter 7, object pronouns remain productive only in the present-based frames already active (ina son + verbal noun). Examples using the future or past marker are included for recognition and glossed accordingly; they are not yet productive targets.
8.4 Negation with location, direction, and delay
Negation forms from Chapters 6–7 (babu, ba ... da, negative continuous/habitual) now extend to location, direction, and delay statements.
- Babu mota kai tsaye zuwa gari.There isn't a direct vehicle to town.
- Ba mu da lokaci mai yawa domin jinkiri.We don't have much time because of the delay.
- Ba na tuƙa da dare.I don't drive at night.
Atisayen A — Cika gibi (Fill in the blank): Complete each sentence with the correct relational noun, existence/possession clause, or negation.
- Tashar keke tana ___ da makaranta. (behind)
- ___ mota kai tsaye zuwa kasuwa yau, amma ___ bas mai yawa.
- Mu ___ (ba ... da) kuɗin sufuri mai yawa domin tafiya mai nisa.
- Ina son hawan ___ (object pronoun for "ta," referring to mota).
Model Dialogue
Yanayin hali: Bala ya isa tashar bas domin komawa gida bayan siyayya a Kasuwar Kurmi.
(Setting: Bala arrives at the bus station to go home after shopping at Kasuwar Kurmi.)
Vocabulary notes for the dialogue: naira ɗari uku = three hundred naira (recognition, number-price formula built on recycled numerals, not assessed for production as a full sentence); ina son sauka... sannan ka hau = suggestion framing built on the present-based frame already active, glossed to highlight its function as advice rather than a new productive pattern.
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- What does Bala first ask the driver?
- Why is there no direct vehicle to Sabon Gari today?
- What does the driver suggest Bala do instead?
- What does Bala do when he doesn't hear the station name clearly?
- Where does Bala decide to get off?
Listening
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud, twice. Complete the listening task after the passage.
Sauraro — Tafiyata zuwa Aiki (My Trip to Work)
"Kowace safe, ina zuwa tashar bas kusa da gidana. Tashar tana gaba da kanti, ba ta da nisa da nan. Ina hawan bas zuwa aiki, amma wani lokaci akwai cuwa-cuwa a hanya, don haka akwai jinkiri. A yau, babu mota kai tsaye, don haka na sauka a wata tasha sannan na hau wani bas. Ba na son jinkiri, amma ba ni da wani zaɓi a yau."
Kula na sauraro — Questions: (1) Where is the bus station relative to the speaker's house? (2) What sometimes causes a delay on the road? (3) What did the speaker have to do today because there was no direct vehicle? (4) How does the speaker feel about the delay?
Rubutun sauraro don malami, abokin karatu, ko amfani da rubutun lantarki. Duba amsoshi a sashi na amsoshi.
(Listening Script for Instructor, Partner, or Text-to-Speech Use. See Answer Key for expected responses.)
Reading
Read the short route directions and schedule note below. Underline every direction or location expression, and circle every existence, possession, or negation expression.
Hanyar Zuwa Tasha da Bayanin Lokaci — Route Directions and Schedule Note
Barka da zuwa Tashar Kofar Ruwa! Domin isa nan daga kasuwa, ku bi hanya babba, sannan ku juya dama a kanti. Tashar tana kusa da makaranta, kuma tana baya da babban banki. Akwai bas zuwa Sabon Gari kowace rabin sa'a, amma babu bas kai tsaye da yamma saboda cuwa-cuwa. Idan kuna son tafiya kai tsaye, ku zo da safe.
New words for recognition: rabin sa'a = half an hour (recycled time vocabulary combined with a new pattern); babban banki = main bank (recognition, adjectival compound, not a productive target this chapter).
Tambayoyin fahimta — Comprehension questions:
- What two direction instructions are given for reaching the station from the market?
- Where is the station located relative to the school and the bank?
- How often does the bus to Sabon Gari run?
- What should a traveler do if they want a direct trip?
Writing Workshop
- Karanta bayanin hanya da hankali. Reread the route directions and notice how they combine direction expressions, existence/possession clauses, and negation with a travel purpose.
- Tsarawa. Plan a short paragraph describing how to get from one place to another that you know well.
- Rubuta. Write 90–120 words in Hausa. Include at least one relational-noun direction expression, one existence/possession clause, one negation, and one object pronoun.
- Duba jerin bincike. Check your draft against the checklist below.
- Rubuta siffa ta ƙarshe. Produce a clean final version.
Jerin binciken gyara — Editing checklist:
- At least one direction or location expression with a relational noun (gaba da, baya da, kusa da, nesa da) appears accurately.
- At least one existence or possession clause (akwai, yana/tana da, or negative) appears accurately.
- At least one negation form from Chapters 6–8 is used correctly.
- At least one object pronoun is used correctly with a transport verb.
- Prior systems (identity clauses, pronouns, continuous/habitual frame, price questions with nawa) remain accurate where they appear.
- No grammar beyond this chapter's scope appears (no productive future za, no productive past na/ka/ta/mu/ku/sun, no productive possessive-suffix system).
- Special characters (ɓ, ɗ, ƙ) and the apostrophe/glottal convention are used accurately.
Speaking Practice
Atisayen ƙa'ida — Direction-giving drill
With a partner, take turns pointing to a simple map or set of pictures and giving directions using gaba da, baya da, dama, and hagu.
A Tashar Bas — Bus station role-play
Role-play a transport interaction as in the Model Dialogue. Ask for the station, ask about a delay, and use at least one moment of communication repair.
Madadin karatu kai tsaye — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your usual trip to a familiar place, including at least one direction expression and one possible delay.
Culture and Communication
In many Hausa-speaking communities, local transport often involves shared vehicles that fill before departing, and routes and fares can shift with traffic, time of day, and demand. Asking a driver or fellow passenger for the current route, fare, or expected delay is a normal and expected part of everyday travel, not a sign of unfamiliarity.
Terms for local transport, station names, and typical fares vary between Nigerian and Nigerien Hausa-speaking communities, and between cities. This course presents forms most useful for general communication in Kano-based standard usage; other regional terms are equally legitimate and should be adjusted for local context.
Common Mistakes
Error: *Tashar tana gaba kanti. (omitting da before the reference point)
Correction: Tashar tana gaba da kanti. — Relational nouns of place such as gaba and baya require da before the reference point, just as kusa da and nesa da do.
Error: *Ku juya gaba a tashar. (using gaba where a side-direction word is needed)
Correction: Ku juya hagu a tashar. — Use dama (right) or hagu (left) for turning instructions; reserve gaba and baya for describing relative position, not the direction of a turn.
Chapter Review
Sashi na A — Kalmomi (Vocabulary)
1. Give the Hausa for four transport items and two direction words introduced in this chapter.
Sashi na B — Nahawu (Grammar)
1. Write one direction sentence with a relational noun, one existence/possession clause, and one sentence using an object pronoun.
2. Change this sentence to the negative: Akwai mota kai tsaye zuwa gari.
3. Complete: Ina son hawan ___ (object pronoun for "sa," referring to bas).
Sashi na C — Karatu da Rubutu
1. Reread the route directions and summarize them in two to three English sentences.
2. Write your 90–120-word direction paragraph, following the Writing Workshop instructions.
Sashi na D — Magana
1. With a partner or instructor, perform the direction-giving drill and the bus station role-play from the Speaking Practice section.
Practical Performance Task
Aikin Aiwatarwa
A Tafiye-tafiye — On the Road
Complete all four components:
- Listening: Listen to the Trip to Work passage read aloud and answer the comprehension questions.
- Speaking: With a partner, perform an unrehearsed transport exchange that includes at least one direction expression, one existence/possession clause, and one instance of asking for repetition.
- Reading: Read the route directions and schedule note and answer the comprehension questions.
- Writing: Submit your 90–120-word direction paragraph.
Evaluation criteria: correct use of relational nouns of place; correct use of akwai versus yana/tana da; accurate object pronouns with transport verbs; accurate negation; natural use of at least one communication-repair expression; accurate ordinary Boko spelling and special characters. Consistent with A2 expectations, comprehensible and task-fulfilling communication should not be penalized as though produced by an advanced speaker.
Answer Key / Amsoshi
Atisayen A (Grammar, Section 8.4)
- Tashar keke tana baya da makaranta.
- Akwai mota kai tsaye zuwa kasuwa yau, amma babu bas mai yawa.
- Mu ba mu da kuɗin sufuri mai yawa domin tafiya mai nisa.
- Ina son hawan ta.
Tambayoyin fahimta na tattaunawa (Dialogue comprehension)
- Bala asks the driver where the bus station to Sabon Gari is.
- There is no direct vehicle because of traffic on the road.
- The driver suggests Bala get off at another station and board a different bus.
- Bala politely asks the driver to repeat the station name.
- Bala decides to get off at Tashar Kofar Ruwa.
Kula na sauraro (Listening responses)
(1) The bus station is near the speaker's house, ahead of the stall. (2) Traffic on the road sometimes causes a delay. (3) Because there was no direct vehicle today, the speaker had to get off at another station and board a different bus. (4) The speaker does not like the delay, but had no other choice today.
Tambayoyin karatu (Reading comprehension)
- Travelers should follow the main road, then turn right at the stall.
- The station is near the school and behind the main bank.
- The bus to Sabon Gari runs every half hour.
- A traveler who wants a direct trip should come in the morning.
Sashi na B (Chapter Review grammar)
- Sample: Tashar tana kusa da makaranta. Akwai bas da yawa a safe. Ina son hawan sa. (Other accurate sentences are acceptable.)
- Babu mota kai tsaye zuwa gari.
- Ina son hawan sa.
Sashi na C (Sample writing)
Domin isa gidana daga kasuwa, sai ka bi hanya babba, sannan ka juya hagu a kanti. Tashar bas tana kusa da makaranta, kuma tana gaba da babban banki. Akwai bas da yawa da safe, amma babu bas kai tsaye da yamma saboda cuwa-cuwa. Ina son hawan sa da safe, don ba na son jinkiri mai yawa.
Other accurate, well-formed passages meeting the stated requirements are equally acceptable.
Looking Ahead
Abin da ka/ki koya — What you have learned
You have learned to name transport and direction vocabulary, describe location and direction using relational nouns, use object pronouns with transport verbs, and extend negation across location, direction, and delay statements.